Ancient Chinese wisdom – the NATURAL benefits of liberty and minimal government

Lao Tze wrote some outstanding pieces in support of liberty (Tao is the natural law in which spontaneous order emerges if the king leaves things alone).

But apparently there was a Chinese historian Sima Qian (Ssu-Ma Ch’ien) who wrote Shi ji, which I’ve become aware of only today, through Steve Kates (here). Read this brilliant excerpt

“Society obviously must have farmers before it can eat; foresters, fishermen, miners, etc., before it can make use of natural resources; craftsmen before it can have manufactured goods; and merchants before they can be distributed. But once these exist, what need is there for government directives, mobilization of labor, or periodic assemblies? Each man has only to be left to utilize his own abilities and exert his strength to obtain what he wishes. Thus, when a commodity is very cheap, it invites a rise in price, when it is very expensive, it invites a reduction. When each person works only away at his own occupation and delights in his own business, then, like water flowing downward, goods will naturally flow forth ceaselessly day and night without having been summoned, and the people will produce commodities without having been asked. Does this not tally with reason? Is it not a natural result?” (Shi ji, 129)

And a useful comment from a commentator on Steve’s blog post:

Ssu-Ma Ch’ien, a wordly and sophisticated man, dismissed the idea that people could solve economic problem by reducing the desires to a minimum. People, Ch’ien maintained, preferred the best and most attainable goods and services, as well as ease and comfort. Men are therefore habitual seekers after wealth…thought very little of the idea of limiting one’s desires…

Also see my blog post: If China were to re-discover Lao Tzu, it would become an unstoppable force – for the good

Like China, India had its brilliant votaries of liberty in the ancient world as well. That’s why these two nations were the world’s wealthiest for most of the past 2000 years. 

Read more at Sanjeev Sabhlok’s Occasional Blog-Liberty